1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

The 1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team represented Pennsylvania State University during the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by 17th-year head coach Joe Paterno, the Nittany Lions compiled a record of 11–1. Penn State defeated the Georgia Bulldogs, 27–23, in the Sugar Bowl to win Paterno's first consensus national championship. The team was selected national champion by AP, Billingsley, DeVold, Dunkel, FACT, FB News, Football Research, FW, Litkenhous, Matthews, NCF, NFF, The New York Times, Poling, Sagarin, Sagarin (ELO-Chess), Sporting News, UPI/coaches, and USA/CNN, while named co-champion by Helms.^[1]

1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football
Consensus national champion Sugar Bowl champion Eastern champion
Sugar Bowl, W 27–23 vs. Georgia
Conference	Independent
Ranking
Coaches	No. 1
AP	No. 1
Record	11-1
Head coach	Joe Paterno (17th season)
Offensive coordinator	Dick Anderson (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Pro-style
Defensive coordinator	Jerry Sandusky (6th season)
Base defense	4–3
Captains	Walker Lee Ashley Ken Kelley Stuart McMunn Pete Speros
Home stadium	Beaver Stadium
Seasons ← 1981 1983 →

1982 Major eastern college football independents records

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Penn State $	6	–	0	–	0			11	–	1	–	0
No. 10 Pittsburgh	4	–	1	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
No. 19 West Virginia	4	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Boston College	3	–	2	–	0			8	–	3	–	1
Rutgers	1	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Temple	1	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Syracuse	1	–	5	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
$ – Lambert Trophy Winner Rankings from AP Poll

1982 NCAA Division I-A independents football records

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 1 Penn State		–		–				11	–	1	–	0
No. 10 Pittsburgh		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
No. 13 Florida State		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
No. 19 West Virginia		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
Boston College		–		–				8	–	3	–	1
Southwestern Louisiana		–		–				7	–	3	–	1
East Carolina		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Miami (FL)		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Southern Miss		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Virginia Tech		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Notre Dame		–		–				6	–	4	–	1
Cincinnati		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Georgia Tech		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Navy		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Louisville		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Rutgers		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Army		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
South Carolina		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Temple		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Tulane		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Syracuse		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Memphis State		–		–				1	–	10	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 4	1:30 p.m.	Temple	No. 8	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	ESPN (tape delay)	W 31–14	80,000	[2]
September 11	1:30 p.m.	Maryland	No. 7	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (rivalry)	TCS	W 39–31	84,597	[3]
September 18	1:30 p.m.	Rutgers	No. 8	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	TCS	W 49–14	83,268	[4]
September 25	3:50 p.m.	No. 2 Nebraska	No. 8	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	CBS	W 27–24	85,304	[5]
October 9	1:30 p.m.	at No. 4 Alabama	No. 3	Legion Field Birmingham, AL (rivalry)	CBS	L 21–42	76,821	[6]
October 16	1:30 p.m.	Syracuse	No. 8	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (rivalry)	TCS	W 28–7	84,762	[7]
October 23	1:30 p.m.	at No. 13 West Virginia	No. 9	Mountaineer Field Morgantown, WV (rivalry)	USA	W 24–0	60,958	[8]
October 30	1:30 p.m.	at Boston College	No. 8	Alumni Stadium Chestnut Hill, MA	TCS	W 52–17	33,205	[9]
November 6	1:30 p.m.	NC State	No. 7	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	TCS	W 54–0	84,837	[10]
November 13	3:50 p.m.	at No. 13 Notre Dame	No. 5	Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN (rivalry)	ABC	W 24–14	59,075	[11]
November 26	12:30 p.m.	No. 5 Pittsburgh	No. 2	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA (rivalry)	ABC	W 19–10	85,522	[12]
January 1, 1983	8:00 p.m.	vs. No. 1 Georgia	No. 2	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA (Sugar Bowl)	ABC	W 27–23	78,124	[13]
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Rankings

See also: 1982 NCAA Division I-A football rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
( ) = First-place votes

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	Final
AP	8	7	8	8	3 (7)	3 (9)	8	9	8	7	5 (1)	3 (2)	2 (2)	2 (2)	2	1 (44)
UPI	5	5*	8	5	3 (3)	3 (6)	10	8 (1)	7	6	4 (1)	3 (3)	2 (2)	2 (2)	2 (3)	1 (33)

* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

Game summaries

Temple

See also: 1982 Temple Owls football team

Temple vs. Penn State – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Temple	0	7	0	7	14
#8 Penn State	21	3	0	7	31

at Beaver Stadium

• Date: September 4
• Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 80,000
• Referee: William Parkinson
• TV announcers (ESPN): Jim Simpson, Bud Wilkinson

Game information

First Quarter PSU – Warner, 40-yard TD pass from Blackledge, Manca kick good, (PSU 7–0) PSU – Baugh, 31-yard TD pass from Blackledge, Manca kick good, (PSU 14–0) PSU – Williams, 16-yard TD pass from Blackledge, Manca kick good, (PSU 21–0) Second Quarter TU – Slade, 1-yard TD pass from Riordan, Clauser kick good, (PSU 21–7) PSU – Manca, 37-yard field goal, (PSU 24–7) Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter PSU – Williams, 4-yard TD pass from Blackledge, Manca kick good, (PSU 31–7) TU – Brown, 14-yard TD pass from Riordan, Clauser kick good, (PSU 31–14) Top passers TU – PSU – Top rushers TU – PSU – Top receivers TU – PSU – Top defenders TU – PSU –

Maryland

See also: 1982 Maryland Terrapins football team and Maryland–Penn State football rivalry

Maryland vs. Penn State – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Maryland	3	7	14	7	31
#7 Penn State	3	17	9	10	39

at Beaver Stadium

• Date: September 11
• Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 84,597
• Referee: J. Vincent Price
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter PSU – MD – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – MD – PSU – Third Quarter MD – PSU – MD – PSU – Fourth Quarter PSU – MD – PSU – Top passers MD – PSU – Top rushers MD – PSU – Top receivers MD – PSU – Top defenders MD – PSU –

Rutgers

See also: 1982 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

Rutgers vs. Penn State – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rutgers	7	7	0	0	14
#5 Penn State	7	14	14	14	49

at Beaver Stadium

• Date: September 18
• Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 83,268
• Referee: Thomas Thamert
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter PSU – RUT – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – RUT – Third Quarter PSU – PSU – Fourth Quarter PSU – PSU – Top passers RUT – PSU – Top rushers RUT – PSU – Top receivers RUT – PSU – Top defenders RUT – PSU –

#2 Nebraska

See also: 1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

Nebraska vs. Penn State – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
#2 Nebraska	0	7	7	10	24
#8 Penn State	7	7	7	6	27

at Beaver Stadium

• Date: September 25
• Game time: 3:50 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 85,304
• Referee: William Parkinson
• TV announcers (CBS): Gary Bender, Pat Haden

Game information
First Quarter PSU – Second Quarter PSU – NEB – Third Quarter PSU – NEB – Fourth Quarter NEB – NEB – PSU – Top passers NEB – PSU – Top rushers NEB – PSU – Top receivers NEB – PSU – Top defenders NEB – PSU –

#4 Alabama

See also: 1982 Alabama Crimson Tide football team and Alabama–Penn State football rivalry

Penn State vs. Alabama – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
#3 Penn State	7	0	7	7	21
#4 Alabama	7	14	3	18	42

at Legion Field

• Date: October 9
• Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 76,821
• TV announcers (CBS): Gary Bender, Pat Haden

Game information
First Quarter ALA – PSU – Second Quarter ALA – ALA – Third Quarter PSU – ALA – Fourth Quarter PSU – ALA – ALA – ALA – Top passers PSU – ALA – Top rushers PSU – ALA – Top receivers PSU – ALA – Top defenders PSU – ALA –

Syracuse

See also: 1982 Syracuse Orangemen football team and Penn State–Syracuse football rivalry

Syracuse vs. Penn State – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Syracuse	0	7	0	0	7
#8 Penn State	7	14	0	7	28

at Beaver Stadium

• Date: October 16
• Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 84,762
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter PSU – Second Quarter PSU – SU – PSU – Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter PSU – Top passers SU – PSU – Top rushers SU – PSU – Top receivers SU – PSU – Top defenders SU – PSU –

#13 West Virginia

See also: 1982 West Virginia Mountaineers football team

Penn State vs. West Virginia – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
#9 Penn State	3	7	0	14	24
#13 West Virginia	0	0	0	0	0

at Mountaineer Field

• Date: October 23
• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 60,958
• TV: USA

Game information

First Quarter PSU – Gancitano, 31-yard field goal, 6:14 (PSU 3–0) Second Quarter PSU – Williams, 4-yard TD run, Gancitano kick good, 1:57 (PSU 10–0) Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter PSU – Radecic 85-yard interception return for TD, Gancitano kick good, 11:29 (PSU 17–0) PSU – Jackson, 9-yard TD run, Gancitano kick good, 2:42 (PSU 24–0) Top passers PSU – WVU – Top rushers PSU – WVU – Top receivers PSU – WVU – Top defenders PSU – WVU –

Boston College

See also: 1982 Boston College Eagles football team

Penn State vs. Boston College – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
#8 Penn State	14	17	7	14	52
Boston College	7	3	0	7	17

at Alumni Stadium

• Date: October 30
• Game time: 1:30 PM EDT
• Game attendance: 33,205
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter BC – PSU – PSU – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – BC – PSU – Third Quarter PSU – Fourth Quarter BC – PSU – PSU – Top passers PSU – BC – Top rushers PSU – BC – Top receivers PSU – BC – Top defenders PSU – BC –

North Carolina State

See also: 1982 North Carolina State Wolfpack football team

North Carolina State vs. Penn State – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
North Carolina State	0	0	0	0	0
#7 Penn State	17	9	21	7	54

at Beaver Stadium

• Date: November 6
• Game time: 1:30 PM EST
• Game attendance: 84,762
• Referee: Thomas Thamert
• TV announcers (TCS): Stan Savran, George Paterno

Game information
First Quarter PSU – PSU – PSU – Second Quarter PSU – PSU – Third Quarter PSU – PSU – PSU – Fourth Quarter PSU – Top passers NCST – PSU – Top rushers NCST – PSU – Top receivers NCST – PSU – Top defenders NCST – PSU –

vs #13 Notre Dame

See also: 1982 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team

No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions (8–1) vs. No. 13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6–1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 5 Nittany Lions	0	13	0	11	24
No. 13 Fighting Irish	7	7	0	0	14

at Notre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, Indiana

• Date: November 13, 1982
• Game time: 3:50 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 59,075
• Referee: Tom Quinn
• TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson (play-by-play), Frank Broyles (color commentator), and Tim Brant (sideline reporter)
• ^[14]

Game information

First Quarter ND – Chris Smith 8-yard TD pass from Ken Karcher, Mike Johnston kick good, 7:27 (ND 7–0) Second Quarter PSU – Todd Blackledge 1-yard TD run, Nick Gancitano kick good, 10:22 (TIE 7–7) PSU – Nick Gancitano 41-yard field goal, 8:07 (PSU 10–7) PSU – Nick Gancitano 29-yard field goal, 1:41 (PSU 13–7) ND – Allen Pinkett 93-yard TD kickoff return, Mike Johnston kick good, 1:27 (ND 14–13) Third Quarter No scoring Fourth Quarter PSU – Curt Warner 48-yard TD pass from Todd Blackledge, pass failed, 13:36 (PSU 19–14) PSU – Safety, Allen Pinkett tackled by Walker Lee Ashley in end zone, 13:28 (PSU 21–14) PSU – Nick Gancitano 27-yard field goal, 3:11 (PSU 24–14)

Statistics	PSU	ND
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Penn State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Notre Dame	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Officials

Game	Position	Name
at #13 Notre Dame	Referee	Tom Quinn
	Umpire	Don McDonnell
	Linesman	Otto Puls
	Line Judge	Richard Farina
	Filed Judge	Larry Nemmers
	Back Judge	Weldon Waites

No. 5 Pittsburgh

See also: 1982 Pittsburgh Panthers football team

No. 5 Pittsburgh Panthers (9–1) vs No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions (9–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 5 Panthers	0	7	0	3	10
No. 2 Nittany Lions	3	0	10	6	19

at Beaver Stadium • University Park, Pennsylvania

• Date: November 26, 1982
• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 85,722
• Referee: Raymond Bower
• TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels (play-by-play), Lee Grosscup (color commentator), and Tim Brant (sideline reporter)

Game information

First Quarter PSU – Nick Gancitano, 26-yard field goal, (PSU 3–0) Second Quarter PITT – Bryan Thomas 4-yard TD run, Eric Schubert kick, (PITT 7–3) Third Quarter PSU – Kenny Jackson 31-yard TD pass from Todd Blackledge, Nick Gancitano kick, (PSU 10–7) PSU – Nick Gancitano, 31-yard field goal, (PSU 13–7) Fourth Quarter PSU – Nick Gancitano, 19-yard field goal, (PSU 16–7) PITT – Eric Schubert, 17-yard field goal, (PSU 16–10) PSU – Nick Gancitano, 29-yard field goal, (PSU 19–10)

Statistics	PITT	PSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Pittsburgh	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Penn State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Officials

Game	Position	Name
No. 5 Pittsburgh	Referee	Raymond Bower
	Umpire	Robert Aebersold
	Linesman	Richard Farina
	Line Judge	Earl Birdy
	Field Judge	Thomas Adams
	Back Judge	Paul Lattanzi

vs No. 1 Georgia (1983 Sugar Bowl)

See also: 1982 Georgia Bulldogs football team and 1983 Sugar Bowl

Overall record	Previous meeting	Previous winner
First meeting

1983 Sugar Bowl
No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions (10–1) vs No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (11–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 2 Nittany Lions	7	13	0	7	27
No. 1 Bulldogs	3	7	7	6	23

at Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, Louisiana

• Date: January 1, 1983
• Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 78,127
• Referee: Vance Carlson
• TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson (play-by-play), Frank Broyles (color commentator), and Jim Lampley (sideline reporter)

Game information

First Quarter PSU – Curt Warner 2-yard TD run, Nick Gancitano kick, 12:09 (PSU 7–0) UGA – Kevin Butler, 27-yard field goal, 6:05 (PSU 7–3) Second Quarter PSU – Nick Gancitano, 38-yard field goal, 11:47 (PSU 10–3) PSU – Curt Warner 9-yard TD run, Nick Gancitano kick, 2:43 (PSU 17–3) PSU – Nick Gancitano, 45-yard field goal, 0:44 (PSU 20–3) UGA – Herman Archie 10-yard TD pass from John Lastinger, Kevin Butler kick, 0:05 (PSU 20–10) Third Quarter UGA – Herschel Walker 1-yard TD run, Kevin Butler kick, 10:37 (PSU 20–17) Fourth Quarter PSU – Gregg Garrity 47-yard TD pass from Todd Blackledge, Nick Gancitano kick, 13:16 (PSU 27–17) UGA – Clarence Kay 9-yard TD pass from John Lastinger, run failed, 3:54 (PSU 27–23)

Statistics	PSU	UGA
First downs	19	19
Total yards	367	326
Rushing yards	44–139	46–160
Passing yards	228	166
Passing: comp–att–int	13–23–0	12–28–2
Time of possession	30:38	29:22

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Penn State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Georgia	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Officials

Game	Position	Name
1983 Sugar Bowl vs No. 1 Georgia	Referee	Vance Carlson
	Umpire	Bob Klisares
	Linesman	Dale Schreurs
	Line Judge	Kent Houck
	Field Judge	John Schroeder
	Back Judge	Artie Palk

Roster

1982 Penn State Nittany Lions football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class RB Tom Barr OL Mark Battaglia WR Kevin Baugh QB 14 Todd Blackledge Sr TE 80 Kirk Bowman Jr WR Kevin Campbell RB Joel Coles OT 79 Bill Contz Sr TE Dean DiMidio RB Bill Emerson WR 19 Gregg Garrity Sr C 58 Nick Haden So OT 72 Ron Heller Jr WR 82 Kenny Jackson Jr G 60 Dave Laube Sr QB Dan Lonergan OL Dick Maginnis TE 81 Mike McCloskey Sr RB 29 Tony Mumford So RB Skeeter Nichols OL Stan Short G 56 Pete Speros Jr QB Doug Strang TE John Walter RB 25 Curt Warner Sr WR Rocky Washington FB 43 Jon Williams So	Defense Pos. # Name Class LB Rogers Alexander CB 39 Dan Biondi Sr CB 23 Alvin Cunningham So CB 92 Mark Fruehan Sr DT 70 Greg Gattuso Jr Hero 17 Harry Hamilton Jr LB Al Harris DL Joe Hines CB 49 Roger Jackson Sr LB 98 Ken Kelley Sr LB 37 Walker Lee Ashley Sr LB Carmen Masciantonio DB Brian McCann DT 65 Dave Opfar Sr LB 33 Dave Paffenroth Sr LB 55 Rodger Puz Sr LB 97 Scott Radecic Jr S 32 Mark Robinson Jr DL Steve Sefter DB Mike Suter DB Chris Sydnor DB Mike Zordich	Special teams Pos. # Name Class PK 13 Nick Gancitano So P 21 Ralph Giacomarro Sr PK 10 Massimo Manca Fr P George Reynolds	Head coach Joe Paterno Coordinators/assistant coaches Dick Anderson John Bove Tom Bradley Booker Brooks Fran Ganter Bob Phillips John Rosenberg Jerry Sandusky Jim Williams Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster

Awards

• Todd Blackledge

Davey O'Brien Award

• Joe Paterno

Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year

• Pete Speros

Nittany Lion of the Year

NFL draft

Nine Nittany Lions were drafted in the 1983 NFL draft.

Round	Pick	Overall	Name	Position	Team
1st	3	3	Curt Warner	Running back	Seattle Seahawks
1st	7	7	Todd Blackledge	Quarterback	Kansas City Chiefs
3rd	17	73	Walker Lee Ashley	Linebacker	Minnesota Vikings
4th	4	88	Mike McCloskey	Tight end	Houston Oilers
5th	10	122	Bill Contz	Offensive tackle	Cleveland Browns
5th	28	140	Gregg Garrity	Wide receiver	Pittsburgh Steelers
10th	8	261	Dave Laube	Offensive guard	Detroit Lions
10th	10	263	Pete Speros	Offensive guard	Seattle Seahawks
10th	15	268	Ralph Giacomarro	Punter	Atlanta Falcons

Media

Radio

Flagship station	Play-by-play	Color commentator	Sideline reporter	Studio host
WMAJ AM 1450	Fran Fisher	John Grant